REAL PEOPLE, REAL ISSUES

127 posts categorized "US National News, World Events"

November 11, 2011

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTSRick Perry does damage control, vows to press onRepublican presidential hopeful Rick Perry spent much of Thursday trying to contain the damage from his debate night debacle by poking fun at himself and promising to press on.(By Amy Gardner and Philip Rucker)

For Rick Perry, retrieval wasn’t goldenWhat happened to the Texas governor Wednesday night was something that neuroscientists say is very ordinary, exacerbated by stress: a “retrieval failure.”(By Joel Achenbach)

Europe slipping toward recessionA possible prolonged slowdown will make it harder for countries to hit their deficit targets and further complicate efforts to ease the ongoing debt crisis.(By Howard Schneider)

For Rick Perry, retrieval wasn’t goldenWhat happened to the Texas governor Wednesday night was something that neuroscientists say is very ordinary, exacerbated by stress: a “retrieval failure.” ( by Joel Achenbach , The Washington Post)

Top Middle East adviser to step downDennis Ross, Middle East trouble-shooter to four presidents, becomes the second high-ranking adviser to quit in six months. ( by Joby Warrick , The Washington Post)

GOP skepticism drives down renewable energy supportSupport for putting federal funds into alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and hydrogen has slipped to its lowest point in polls since 2006. ( by Juliet Eilperin and Jon Cohen , The Washington Post)

METRODeal on Dulles rail financingThe major stakeholders in the second phase of the Dulles rail project have reached a final deal on financing. ( by Dana Hedgpeth , The Washington Post)

Ex-priest on probation for fondling 2 Georgetown Prep studentsA former priest was sentenced to five years’ supervised probation Thursday for fondling two students at Georgetown Preparatory School, where he taught from 1989 to 2003, as prosecutors compared the school’s initial response in the case to the scandal unfolding at Penn State University. ( by Dan Morse , The Washington Post)

Driver pleads guilty in crash that killed threeMoments after pleading guilty Thursday, Kevin Coffay took a seat, dropped his head and listened to a prosector lay out how drunk he was and how horribly his friends died when he crashed a car in Olney at 3 a.m. one day last spring. ( by Dan Morse , The Washington Post)

Rick Perry does damage control, vows to press onRepublican presidential hopeful Rick Perry spent much of Thursday trying to contain the damage from his debate night debacle by poking fun at himself and promising to press on. ( by Amy Gardner and Philip Rucker , The Washington Post)

Reggie Love to leave White HouseLove’s exit comes at a time of transition for the administration: several longtime advisers have left over the last year, in keeping with the time-honored tradition that close aides do not abandon the president immediately before an election. ( by Anne E. Kornblut , The Washington Post)

STYLE‘Immortals’ falls short of Olympus“Immortals,” a CGI-heavy bloodbath, owes less to Greek myth than to “The Lord of the Rings,” Hong Kong costume epics and American comic books. ( by Mark Jenkins , The Washington Post)

Divining the import of 11/11/11Some number fans believe that elevens are the most special of the special master numbers, so 11/11/11 is getting a lot of attention. ( by Monica Hesse , The Washington Post)

A perplexed husbandAfter 15 years of marriage, he learns that being the breadwinner isn’t enough. (, The Washington Post)

Romenesko resigns from PoynterJim Romenesko, who pioneered the practice of collecting news about journalism and the media industry, resigned from his job after his editor publicly questioned his own journalism standards. ( by Paul Farhi , The Washington Post)

Crystal replaces Murphy as Oscars hostBilly Crystal was tapped Thursday to take over for Eddie Murphy as host of the Academy Awards broadcast by Brian Grazer — the movie mogul who was tapped a day earlier to produce this year’s Oscarcast, replacing Brett Ratner. (, The Washington Post)

W.T. Woodson makes first statesVOLLEYBALL | W.T. Woodson senior Rachel Conway waited four years for a chance to get to the state tournament, and she wasn’t going to let it pass her by. ( by Matt Brooks , The Washington Post)

LIVE DISCUSSIONSAsk The Post: Chief Experience Officer Laura EvansLaura Evans, vice president, research and chief experience officer for The Washington Post, was online Thursday, Nov. 10 to discuss her now role and plans for the print newspaper, Web site, mobile apps and other Post products. (, vForum)

BUSINESSStock markets advance on jobless claimsU.S. stocks advanced Thursday, rebounding from the previous day’s tumble, as jobless claims declined, while a retreat in Italian bond yields and the selection of a new Greek premier tempered concern about Europe’s debt crisis. ( by Rita Nazareth , Bloomberg)

Republican will direct MF Global probeThe chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission had ties to Jon Corzine, a former Democratic officeholder who was head of the brokerage. ( by David S. Hilzenrath , The Washington Post)

At Fed, louder calls for actionFederal Reserve officials who advocate new action to try to strengthen the economy are becoming more vocal, but their words haven’t resulted in deeds. ( by Neil Irwin , The Washington Post)

Europe slipping toward recessionA possible prolonged slowdown will make it harder for countries to hit their deficit targets and further complicate efforts to ease the ongoing debt crisis. ( by Howard Schneider , The Washington Post)

June 29, 2011

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS Kabul hotel attacked by suicide bombersA squad of bombers and gunmen attacked a landmark hotel in the Afghan capital late Tuesday, exploding a vehicle at its gate and then entering the building. (By Pamela Constable)

D.C. seeks foothold in online gamblingD.C. officials are scrambling to launch an online casino in the city, which is the first jurisdiction in the United States to sanction Internet gambling. (By Michael Laris)

Matching Supreme Court justices The Supreme Court term that ended Monday appeared to make clear that Bush and Obama got what they hoped for when they nominated the justices who will shape the court’s future. ( by Robert Barnes , The Washington Post)

June 20, 2011

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS McIlroy captures history at CongressionalRory McIlroy posts the lowest mark in tournament history, shooting a final-round 69 for a total of 16-under 268, as he runs away with the 111th U.S. Open. (By Barry Svrluga)

CEO Pay: What the area’s executives makeHefty stock awards and bonuses drove total compensation up over 20 percent for Washington’s highest-paid chief executives last year, reflecting a nationwide trend among the largest public companies. (By Danielle Douglas)

STYLEAsk Amy: Words of love, uttered and ... forgotten? During a weekend outing, her boyfriend told her he loved her, would marry her “in a week” and wanted her to have his baby. The next day, he couldn’t remember what he said. Yes, there was drinking involved. (, Tribune Media Service)

Hints From Heloise: Special guest request Heloise asks: Is it fair to ask for unusual, specialty or hard-to-find food items when you are a guest in someone’s home? Readers, what do you have to say? (, King)

Calm by the green, crazed by the pitch At the U.S. Open and the Gold Cup, vastly dissimilar cultures were on display — entirely different, yet very much the same. ( by Rick Maese , The Washington Post)

FTC vs. National Gallery Republican lawmaker’s push to have the National Gallery take over the historic FTC building has sparked a turf battle in Washington. ( by Ned Martel , The Washington Post)

Sunday's Sports In Brief BETHESDA, Md. — On another brilliant day of golf, Rory McIlroy ran away with the U.S. Open title, winning by eight shots and breaking the tournament scoring record by a whopping four strokes. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

WORLDReports: Japan's prime minister under pressure to resign next month TOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan, criticized for his handling of the tsunami disaster and the country’s sluggish economy, is under pressure to resign next month if budget bills are passed by parliament, reports said Monday. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

White House report on Libya does little to soothe anger among lawmakers on Capitol Hill WASHINGTON — The White House is vigorously defending President Barack Obama’s right to keep the U.S. military engaged in Libya without seeking congressional approval, a move that appears to have done little to soothe anger among Republican lawmakers and anti-war Democrats over the president’s consultations with Congress during the nearly three month-long campaign. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Miss Manners: Who wins in ‘culture’ clash? Dear Miss Manners: When cultural differences result in different expectations of the hostess and guest obligations, to whose culture should we defer; the hostess’s or the guest’s? (, United Media)

June 15, 2011

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTSA tough mission in AfghanistanA low-key Marine, Gen. John R. Allen, is set to take over the war at high-stakes moment.(By Craig Whitlock)

Nuclear waste dump is mired in inertiaYucca Mountain is a case study in government dysfunction and bureaucratic inertia. The project dates back three decades. It has not solved the problem of nuclear waste.(By Joel Achenbach and Brian Vastag)

Bachmann basks in newfound momentumRep. Michele Bachmann enjoyed a day of fundraising, media exposure and glowing analysis of her newfound momentum on Tuesday, following a strong presidential debate performance.(By Amy Gardner and Sandhya Somashekhar)

States seeking to save on MedicaidRepublican governors step up their resistance to rules requiring states to maintain current levels of health-care coverage for the poor and disabled under Medicaid.(By Michael A. Fletcher)

Graduating from elementary school?Dozens of elementary students in the D.C. area are celebrating what some critics call graduation inflation, the growth of ceremonies to mark the end of elementary school. (By Steve Hendrix)

Detainee who provided key information about bin Laden courier rejoins al-QaidaWASHINGTON — The terrorist described as the linchpin in the hunt for Osama bin Laden has rejoined al-Qaida after the Bush administration released him from a secret CIA secret prison under pressure from Pakistan, according to former and current U.S. intelligence officials. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Detainee who provided key information about bin Laden courier rejoins al-QaidaWASHINGTON — The terrorist described as the linchpin in the hunt for Osama bin Laden has rejoined al-Qaida after the Bush administration released him from a secret CIA secret prison under pressure from Pakistan, according to former and current U.S. intelligence officials. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Ask Amy: Military couple failing basic trainingA military couple who live in separate states, decided to set up joint checking and savings accounts to strengthen their bond. Alas, one side didn’t practice complete transparency. (, Tribune Media Service)

Tuesday's Sports In BriefNEW YORK — An end to the NFL lockout might not be imminent, but it does appears much closer than at any point in the last three months. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Attack on Afghan governor’s office kills 8MAIDAN SHAR, Afghanistan — A suicide bomber killed eight people and wounded four in a strike Wednesday on the governor’s office in a northeastern province, while a mortar targeted a building where NATO and Afghan officials were attending the inauguration of the country’s largest police training center in central Afghanistan. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

UK government to back proposals to separate banksLONDON — The British government intends to force banks to insulate their retail operations from their more volatile investment banking, a Treasury source confirmed Wednesday. ( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

May 02, 2011

A foreign policy novice when he came to office, President Obama can now claim a national security victory that eluded his predecessor for almost eight years.

The caliber of his leadership, often the target of withering attacks by the Republican opposition, has now been bolstered in a very tangible way, as the image of celebrating crowds gathering spontaneously at the White House and the former World Trade Center in New York late Sunday night demonstrated.

In his speech to Americans announcing the death of Osama bin Laden, he made clear Sunday night that he had been in the driver's seat all along, noting that he had approved the operation at its key moments And he could trumpet that no Americans were harmed in the mission carried out by U.S. special forces.

More details are likely to emerge in coming days that could alter public attitudes. And the unexpected news that "justice had been done" after almost a decade-long hunt may not be the turning point many Obama supporters would like it to be. Similar developments over the years, such as the successful Persian Gulf war of the early 1990s or the apprehension of Saddam Hussein in 2003, did not prove to have lasting impact.

But the immediate result will almost certainly help Obama's sagging popularity, which had returned to its lowest levels in the midst of high gas prices and even questions about the legitimacy of his presidency.

The development is "a great boost for him, as it would be for any president," said pollster Andrew Kohut, who directs the nonpartisan Pew Research Center.

"This is the most symbolic victory he could have," Kohut said. "It's not the end of the war on terror, but it is likely to be seen as a great achievement for the country."

In tracing the roots of the successful mission back almost a year, Obama may have validated his oft-criticized reputation for caution. In combination with the military surge that Obama ordered in Afghanistan and the recent attacks on Libya, the successful operation to kill Bin Laden will make it much more difficult for a Republican to employ in next year's campaign the familiar charge that Democrats are weak on defense.

Obama was able to proclaim that "the most significant achievement to date" in the war against Al Qaeda was a triumph for the U.S. military and intelligence personnel who hunted down and killed the architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, and that no Americans were killed in the operation.

By comparison, another Democratic president, Jimmy Carter, had to break the sad news to the nation that a rescue attempt to free the U.S. hostages in Iran had not only failed but had resulted in the loss of U.S. lives.

"This can be portrayed credibly as one more example of a president willing to take the long view for success and to achieve it," said Bill Galston, a former Clinton White House aide. "It is also likely to generate a reevaluation of [Obama's] foreign policy apparatus, which hasn't exactly been showered in praise."

Beyond that, Obama has further elevated himself above a field of Republican challengers that is remarkably lacking in foreign-policy expertise, unlike his 2008 opponent, John McCain. Initial reaction from GOP presidential candidates was, as might be expected, positive.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney called it "a great victory for lovers of freedom and justice everywhere" and praised "our intelligence community, our military and the president." SOURCE

April 14, 2011

A Man, A Plan, A DeficitPresident Obama outlined his plan for tackling the national debt Wednesday, drawing on liberal values and proposing tax cuts for the rich.Read original story in New York Times | Thursday, April 14, 2011

FAA Ends Solo Air Traffic Night ShiftsAfter another incident of a controller nodding off, federal authorities now insist each night shift must be a sleepover with more than one controller at the party.Read original story in Washington Post | Thursday, April 14, 2011

States Seek to Ban Animal Farm ExposesUndercover photos and videos are a favored tool of animal advocates looking to reveal squalid conditions and inhumane practices. Some states want to make them illegal, because not all animals are equal.Read original story in New York Times | Thursday, April 14, 2011

Blogger Sues Huffington PostAriana Huffington is a "robber baron" who has made millions off the backs of unpaid bloggers, says one contributer who's filed suit against the site.Read original story in Los Angeles Times | Wednesday, April 13, 2011

April 11, 2011

Obama To Deliver Deficit-Reduction Speech WednesdaySenior adviser David Plouffe told the Sunday shows that the president will outline his plan to reduce federal budget deficits and debt, including a call for wealthier Americans to pay more taxes.Read original story in USA Today | Sunday, April 10, 2011

Qaddafi Agrees to Peace PlanLibya's leader has agreed to the African Union's proposed cease-fire and "dialogue." But rebels say they will accept nothing less than the despot's resignation.Read original story in Washington Post | Monday, April 11, 2011

Concern Grows Over Debt Ceiling VoteIf it was so difficult to reach a deal on a budget until September that cut $38 billion, many are growing worried about the possibility that a divided Washington won't be able to agree on raising the current $14.25 trillion federal debt ceiling.Read original story in The New York Times | Sunday, April 10, 2011

General McChrystal is BackAfter dismissing McChrystal following his Rolling Stone debacle, Obama has asked the former Afghanistan commander to lead a program for military families. Read original story in New York Times | Monday, April 11, 2011

U.N. Hammers Ivory Coast PresidentPresident Laurent Gbagbo is vying for the title of most tenacious dictator, which means the U.N. and France have started bombarding his forces again.Read original story in CNN | Monday, April 11, 2011

Unusual Device Led To Confusion in Synagogue BlastFirst, officials said it was a bomb, then they said it was an accident, and now it's a bomb again. Part of the issue had to do with the fact that the explosive was layered under hundreds of pounds of concrete, making it difficult to identify.Read original story in The Los Angeles Times | Sunday, April 10, 2011

Mubarak Denies he Was a Corrupt PresidentIn his first comments since he was ousted from the Egyptian presidency, Hosni Mubarak denied he had abused his power and vowed to cooperate in any investigation.Read original story in Al Jazeera | Sunday, April 10, 2011

April 07, 2011

Budget Dispute Drags onObama, Boehner, and Reid met for 90 minutes in the Oval Office on Wednesday, and say they are inching closer to a deal.Read original story in New York Times | Thursday, April 7, 2011

Fox Drops Glenn BeckDing-dong! The demagogic host announced his departure from Fox News Wednesday, but not before likening himself to Paul Revere.Read original story in Los Angeles Times | Thursday, April 7, 2011

Qaddafi to Obama: Be My Pen Pal?"Our dear son, Excellency, Baraka Hussein Abu oumama, your intervention is the name of the U.S.A. is a must," the Libyan dictator wrote in a letter.Read original story in AP | Thursday, April 7, 2011

Berlusconi to Bunga Bunga Another DayBoth the Italian Prime Minister and his alleged escort, "Ruby Heartstealer," skipped their first day in court. The trial will resume May 31.Read original story in NPR | Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Japan Plant Repair DelayedWorkers are trying to repair a ventilation system in the plant and channel enough power to a cable connected to reactor No. 2.Read original story in New York Times | Monday, March 21, 2011

Wyclef Jean Shot in HaitiThe pop star was grazed by a bullet as he campaigned for fellow musician Michel Martelly in the Haitian presidential election.Read original story in CNN | Monday, March 21, 2011

AT&T Buys T-Mobile for $39 BillionThe deal will make AT&T the biggest wireless carrier in the United States. It also means trouble for competitors and workers as AT&T consolidates the two companies. Read original story in Wall Street Journal | Monday, March 21, 2011

Knut Is DeadThe star polar bear of the Berlin Zoo died suddenly on Saturday, aged 4, as hundreds of tourists looked on in horror.Read original story in AP | Monday, March 21, 2011

The Congressman from Koch?Kansas Congressman Mike Pompeo received more money from Koch Industries than any other politician in 2010. Liberal groups say he's now pushing Koch-friend legislation in the House.Read original story in Washington Post | Monday, March 21, 2011

When Maggie Met JimmyA new trove of letters and documents suggest that hard-nosed British leader Margaret Thatcher was surprisingly chummy with President Jimmy Carter.Read original story in The Associated Press | Saturday, March 19, 2011

February 28, 2011

The King's Speech Triumphs at OscarsThe period costume drama won best picture while its star Colin Firth picked up the best actor Oscar. Natalie Portman of Black Swan won best actress in a ceremony critics are calling anticlimactic.Read original story in The New York Times | Monday, Feb. 28, 2011

Rebels Closing In on QaddafiArmed forces opposed to the Libyan dictator are in control of a town 30 miles west of Tripoli that is now surrounded by government forces. Is Oman next?Read original story in The New York Times | Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011

Even Atheists Get Mad at GodIn a survey of people's attitudes toward God, nonbelievers reported experiencing more anger at God during their lives than believers.Read original story in CNN | Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011

Peace Corps Founder Sargent Shriver DiesThe brother-in-law to the Kennedys was a paragon of Big Government idealism, presiding over the Peace Corps and president Johnson's "War on Poverty."Read original story in Time | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

Are Statins Like Lipitor Overrated?Chloresterol-lowering drugs are a cash cow for drug companies but researchers say the medications may not benefit those at low risk of heart disease. Read original story in Reuters | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

Goldman's Partners: Rich and MaleBeyond the bank's top execs lie Goldman Sachs' 475 partners, who stand to make a fortune off of company stock options. Only 13 percent of them are women. Read original story in The New York Times | Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011

Haiti Charges Baby Doc With Corruption, TheftThe former dictator said he returned to Haiti to help his country, but instead he's being held accountable for the harm he inflicted 25 years ago. Read original story in BBC | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

August 16, 2010

Gen. Petraeus: 2011 Afghan Exit Date Could Be ImpossibleAppearing on Meet the Press, the United States' top army general announced his support for President Obama's timetable to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan in July 2011, but warned he could foresee circumstances that would make it impossible for him to recommend such action.Read original story in The Washington Post | Monday, Aug. 16, 2010

UN Chief Calls on Donors to Speed Up Aid to PakistanAfter flying over some of the hardest-hit areas of Pakistan with President Zardari, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who has visited many natural disaster sites, called the monsoon-induced flooding some of the worst destruction he has ever seen.Read original story in The Los Angeles Times | Monday, Aug. 16, 2010

Accused Craigslist Killer Commits Suicide in JailPhilip Markoff, who pleaded not guilty in June to a slew of charges for murdering, robbing and attacking girls that he met on Craigslist, was found dead Sunday in his cell at Nashua Street Jail.Read original story in ABC News | Monday, Aug. 16, 2010

Dems. Pushing Kennedy's Widow To Become CandidateMany think Victoria Reggie Kennedy stands the best chance of beating Sen. Scott Brown, who has become hugely popular in Massachusetts. Some in the Kennedy clan aren't happy, saying she shouldn't do anything to distract from her work promoting her late husband's legacy.Read original story in The Washington Post | Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010

Obama Swims in the GulfFearful of another tabloid obsession with the president's fit body, the White House didn't let reporters see the president enjoying the water with his daughter Sasha.Read original story in Los Angeles Times | Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010

July 29, 2010

PHOENIX — States that
had been watching Arizona's immigration law in hopes of copying it
received a rude awakening when a judge put most of the measure on hold
and agreed with the Obama administration's core argument that
immigration enforcement is the role of the federal government.

The
ruling marked a repudiation of the Arizona law as U.S. District Judge
Susan Bolton indicated that the government has a good chance at
succeeding in its argument that federal immigration law trumps state
law. It was an important first-round victory for the government in a
fight that may not be settled until the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in.

But opponents of the law said the ruling sends a strong message to
other states hoping to replicate the law. "Surely it's going to make
states pause and consider how they're drafting legislation and how it
fits in a constitutional framework," Dennis Burke, the U.S. Attorney for
Arizona, told the Associated Press. "The proponents of this went into
court saying there was no question that this was constitutional, and now
you have a federal judge who's said 'hold on, there's major issues with
this bill.'"

He added: "So this idea that this is going to be a
blueprint for other states is seriously in doubt. The blueprint is
constitutionally flawed."

Gov. Jan Brewer called Wednesday's
decision "a bump in the road" and vowed to appeal.

Her spokesman
Paul Senseman said the state would ask the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals in San Francisco on Thurdsay to lift Bolton's preliminary
injunction and to expedite its consideration of the state's appeal.

The
key sponsor of Arizona's law, Republican Rep. Russell Pearce, said the
judge was wrong and predicted that the state would ultimately win the
case.

In her temporary injunction, Bolton delayed the most
contentious provisions of the law, including a section that required
officers to check a person's immigration status while enforcing other
laws. She also barred enforcement of parts requiring immigrants to carry
their papers and banned illegal immigrants from soliciting employment
in public places — a move aimed at day laborers that congregate in large
numbers in parking lots across Arizona. The judge also blocked officers
from making warrantless arrests of suspected illegal immigrants. CONTINUE READING...

April 28, 2010

NOGALES, Mexico — Despite its intent to “discourage and deter” unlawful
entry to the United States, Arizona’s tough new immigration law is not what prevented
Verónica from sneaking into the state without papers. After all, she had
already endured a harrowing train ride, escaped dangerous drug
traffickers and eluded Mexican authorities who were after the money she
had stuffed in her underwear.

Verónica did not make it to the United States, she said glumly, simply
because she got nervous. Her palms got sweaty and she slipped off the
pole she and others in her group were shimmying up to get over the
border fence and into Arizona.

It was a long fall and Verónica, a Honduran immigrant who declined to
give her last name out of fear that it might hurt her chances of
migrating north in the future, was bruised and limping when she
recounted her failed border crossing. She was pregnant, too, and worried
about how her fetus had handled the trauma.

“If they think the migrants will stop coming, they’re wrong,” Rafael
Limón Corbalá, head of the regional migration office for the Mexican
state of Sonora, said of the Arizona legislators who approved the law.
“There’s still jobs over there, and many people will still have their
eyes on getting across.”

If a migrant can pay enough, heading north can be as simple as waiting
in line at a border crossing, handing a forged identity document to a
border guard and, if it works, strolling into the United States. But it
is more likely to be a nightmarish trek through the Mexican countryside
and then across the Arizona desert.

Either way, migrants pool significant sums, anywhere from $2,500 to
$5,000, to make the passage. That is enough in many of their hometowns
to build a basic home or start a small business, but it is widely viewed
among migrants as a worthy investment.

Arizona’s new law — which calls for police officers who have “reasonable
suspicion” of a person’s immigration status to demand proof of legal
residency — was uniformly disliked by the many migrants interviewed in
this border town on the Mexican side. The criticism seemed the same
among those preparing to cross, those who were deciding what to do next
after being deported and those in the midst of crossing who spoke as
they trudged nervously north.

“We work for the people of Arizona and now they don’t want us,” fumed
Miguel, who said he was part a group of several dozen people caught by
the Border
Patrol in the desert this week and bused back to the border. He
said he would be making another attempt — his eighth in recent years —
soon. CONTINUE READING...

February 25, 2010

It’s that time of the decennial again, when the federal government
starts sending out census questionnaires to millions of residents. And
the government is urging everyone -- especially African Americans -- to
fill out their forms and get counted.

“Historically, African Americans have been reluctant to participate
in the census in the past,” says Arnold Jackson, associate director for
the 2010 census. “Other than voting, I’m not sure anything is as
important-the census helps dictate who represents us and where federal
dollars are spent in our communities.” Unfortunately, the 2000 Census missed an estimated one million people of color and also undercounted low-income people and children.

The 2010 Census will ask for your name, gender, age, race,
ethnicity, relationship, and whether you own or rent your home – the
simple questions will take about 10 minutes to answer, he says. (Sample questionnaire) The Constitutionally mandated census
is conducted every 10 years and counts every resident in the United
States. The census will help communities receive more than $400 billion
in federal funds each year and also help determine the number of seats
each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“We’ve made progress on reducing the differential undercount, but it
is extremely for any group that is concerned about equal representation
to participate,” says Jackson.

By March, the 10-question census form will be delivered to every
residence in the United States and Puerto Rico. The federal government
would like the form mailed back by April 1. If the form isn’t returned,
you may receive a visit from a census taker, who will ask you the
questions from the form. Though the majority – 90% -- of forms will be
mailed, the census bureau will also send out staff to areas where is
not delivered to residences uniformly and areas that historically have
a low rate of return of questionnaires to conduct interviews. CONTINUE READING...

January 13, 2010

With phone lines down and communication cut, Haitians living in
America are "sick with worry" and scrambling for information about
loved ones who experienced Tuesday's 7.0 earthquake on the island
nation."At this point it looks like it's worse than we all
imagined and we still don't know specifics because of the down power
lines," Gepsi Metellus said Wednesday. She is the executive director of
the Sant La Haitian Neighborhood Center in Miami, Florida, which
provides services to Haitians in South Florida ranging from help with
taxes to how to navigate the American school system."We are assuming there are a lot more casualties than we might have initially thought," she said.

Metellus
said she still hasn't heard from her mother, who splits her time
between Haiti -- she lives in Pétionville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince
-- and Miami. Her mother flew from Miami to Haiti on Friday. "She's in
her 70s. I'm very concerned."Metellus is also trying to find
out how the center can best help people in Haiti, but without
information, that's difficult to ascertain at the moment. "There are
people who want to drop off medicine and food and water at the center,
but we don't even know if that's what's needed, much less if we will be
able to get those supplies to the island."

Haiti
is the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere. Plagued with
"political violence for most of its history," according to the CIA
World Factbook, the Caribbean island nation has suffered from
colonialism, coups and corruption since becoming the first black
republic in 1804. CONTINUE READING...

September 2012

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